Materials containing picocrystalline quantum dots that form artificial atoms are disclosed. The picocrystalline quantum dots (in the form of born icosahedra with a nearly-symmetrical nuclear configuration) can replace corner silicon atoms in a structure that demonstrates both short range and long-range order as determined by x-ray diffraction of actual samples. A novel class of boron-rich compositions that self-assemble from boron, silicon, hydrogen and, optionally, oxygen is also disclosed. The preferred stoichiometric range for the compositions is (B.sub.12H.sub.w).sub.xSi.sub.yO.sub.z with 3≤w≤5, 2≤x≤4, 2≤y≤5 and 0≤z≤3. By varying oxygen content and the presence or absence of a significant impurity such as gold, unique electrical devices can be constructed that improve upon and are compatible with current semiconductor technology.

The present invention provides a preparation method of a gallium nitride single crystal based on a ScAlMgO.sub.4 substrate, comprising following steps: (1) providing a ScAlMgO.sub.4 substrate; (2) growing a buffer layer on a surface of the ScAlMgO.sub.4 substrate; (3) annealing the buffer layer; (4) growing a GaN crystal on the buffer layer; (5) performing cooling, so that the GaN crystal is automatically peeled off from the ScAlMgO.sub.4 substrate. The present invention does not need to use a complex MOCVD process for GaN deposition and preprocessing to make a mask or a separation layer, which effectively reduces production costs; compared with traditional substrates such as sapphire, it has higher quality and a larger radius of curvature, and will not cause a problem of OFFCUT non-uniformity for growing GaN over 4 inches; finally, the present invention can realize continuous growth into a crystal bar with a thickness of more than 5 mm, which further reduces the costs.

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor element of the present disclosure includes: a step of preparing a substrate; a first element forming step of forming a first semiconductor layer in a first region on a surface of the substrate; a first element separating step of separating the first semiconductor layer from the substrate; and a second element forming step of forming a second semiconductor layer in a second region on the surface of the substrate from which the first semiconductor layer is separated. Additionally, in the method for manufacturing a semiconductor element of the present disclosure, at least a portion of the second region overlaps the first region.

A vapor phase epitaxial growth device comprises a reactor vessel and a wafer holder arranged within the reactor vessel. The wafer holder includes a wafer holding surface configured to hold a wafer with a wafer surface oriented substantially vertically downward. The device comprises a first material gas supply pipe configured to supply a first material gas and arranged below the wafer holding surface. The device comprises a second material gas supply pipe configured to supply a second material gas and arranged below the wafer holding surface. The device comprises a gas exhaust pipe configured to exhaust gases and arranged below the wafer holding surface. A distance between the gas exhaust pipe and an axis line passing through a center of the wafer holding surface is greater than distances between the axis line and each of the first material gas supply pipe and the second material gas supply pipe.

An epitaxial wafer according to the present disclosure includes: a substrate; a buffer layer formed of a crystal having the composition formula represented by Al.sub.xGa.sub.yIn.sub.zN (x+y+z=1, y>0) on the substrate; a back-barrier layer formed of a crystal having the composition formula represented by Al.sub.xGa.sub.yIn.sub.zN (x+y+z=1, y>0, z>0) on the buffer layer; a channel layer formed of a crystal having the composition formula represented by Al.sub.xGa.sub.yIn.sub.zN (x+y+z=1, y>0) on the back-barrier layer; and an electron-supply layer formed of a crystal having the composition formula represented by Al.sub.xGa.sub.yIn.sub.zN (x+y+z=1, x>0) on the channel layer. The channel layer is constituted with an upper channel layer underneath the electron-supply layer and a lower channel layer on the back-barrier layer, and the lower channel layer has a C concentration higher than the upper channel layer and contains Si.

This disclosure provides a vapor-liquid reaction device including a vapor-liquid reaction chamber and a projecting member. The vapor-liquid reaction chamber holds a molten metal in a lower portion of an internal space of the vapor-liquid reaction chamber.

Methods and systems for in-situ and selective area etching of surfaces or layers, and high-speed growth of gallium nitride (GaN), by organometallic chlorine (Cl) precursors, are described herein. In one aspect, a method can include exposing a GaN layer or surface to an organometallic Cl precursor within a reactor under conditions sufficient to etch the layer or surface, thereby etching the GaN layer or surface. In another aspect, a method of growing GaN can include inputting a set of reactants comprising at least trimethylgallium (TMGa) and anunonia into an OMVPE reactor; inputting an organometallic Cl precursor into the OMVPE reactor; and reacting the Cl precursor with the TM Ga and with the NH3 to deposit GaN by organometallic vapor phase epitaxy.

A III-nitride-based semiconductor wafer is provided that includes a substrate with a central region and a peripheral edge region. One or more intermediate layers may be optionally provided selected from a buffer layer, a seed layer, or a transition layer. A peripheral edge feature is formed in or on a peripheral edge region of the substrate or the transition layer, with one or more peripheral edge passivation layers or peripheral edge surface texturing. The peripheral edge feature extends only around the peripheral edge and not in the central region. One or more III-nitride-based layers is positioned over the central region. In the central region, the III-nitride layer is an epitaxial layer while in the peripheral edge region, it is a polycrystalline layer. Stress due to lattice mismatches and differences in the coefficient of thermal expansion between the III-nitride layer and the substrate is relieved, minimizing defects.

A method of performing heteroepitaxy comprises exposing a substrate to a carrier gas, a first precursor gas, a Group II/III element, and a second precursor gas, to form a heteroepitaxial growth of one of GaAs, AlAs, InAs, GaP, InP, ZnSe, GaSe, CdSe, InSe, ZnTe, CdTe, GaTe, HgTe, GaSb, InSb, AlSb, CdS, GaN, and AlN on the substrate; wherein the substrate comprises one of GaAs, AlAs, InAs, GaP, InP, ZnSe, GaSe, CdSe, InSe, ZnTe, CdTe, GaTe, HgTe, GaSb, InSb, AlSb, CdS, GaN, and AlN; wherein the carrier gas is Hz, wherein the first precursor is HCl, the Group II/III element comprises at least one of Zn, Cd, Hg, Al, Ga, and In; and wherein the second precursor is one of AsH.sub.3 (arsine), PH.sub.3 (phosphine), H.sub.2Se (hydrogen selenide), H.sub.2Te (hydrogen telluride), SbH.sub.3 (hydrogen antimonide), H.sub.2S (hydrogen sulfide), and NH.sub.3 (ammonia). The process may be an HVPE (hydride vapor phase epitaxy) process.

Disclosed herein are laser-assisted metal-organic chemical vapor deposition devices and methods of use thereof.